Algeria speaks out on behalf of Africa for international biodiversity marine treaty

July 13th, 2017

APS : Tuesday, 11 July 2017

NEW YORK- Algeria resumed Monday, in New York, on behalf of the African countries, the negotiations on the international treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity.
The negotiations started at the headquarters of the United Nations at the level of the preparatory committee in charge of identifying a draft treaty on marine biological diversity as part of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The discussions on this treaty will be held until July 21 and aims at drawing up an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in the areas located beyond the limits of national jurisdictions.
The negotiations on this new legal instrument were decided by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 and the three previous sessions of the preparatory committee, held in 2016 and 2017.
The fourth session of the committee provides for the examination of elements of a draft treaty and the adoption of the committee’s report which will be submitted to the UN General assembly before the end of the year.
In this regard, Algeria will continue making a plea for the interests of the African continent concerning the exploitation of marine genetic resources, studies of environmental impacts, strengthening of national capacities and transfer of marine technologies.